**** DONE: GB-51 1/48 F-4E Phantom II - No Propellers

Donivanp · Aug 2, 2021

Username : donivanp
First name : Don
Category : intermediate
Scale : 1/48
Manufacturer / Model : Zoukei-Mura F-4E Phantom II (Early)
Extras : Decals (not sure which I want to use yet), Weapons kits, metal pitot and AOA probes, Quinta Studios cockpit, resin seats and or Kits World seat enhancements

Donivanp · Aug 2, 2021

Da Kit

x2

rochie · Aug 2, 2021

Love it, need to get a vietnam Phantom for my collection

T Bolt · Aug 2, 2021

Never heard of that mfg. Recessed panel lines? Can't quite tell from your pictures

Donivanp · Aug 2, 2021

T Bolt said:
Never heard of that mfg. Recessed panel lines? Can't quite tell from your pictures

I'm surprised Glen, ZM has been doing high end kits for several years now. There F-4 series, until Tamiya pop their "B" has been the 1/48 gold standard on Phantoms, though they have had some critics of the earlier release not being just the right shape in the back. Men!!!! Always critical of a back end!. Well anyway this is the latest release from then save for their EJ. Yes it has all the bell's and whistles. Andy did a 1/32 Dina a couple builds back. Ho 129 in 1/48th and 1/32 clear. Ta 152. yeah there the bizz so to speak. Now can I do it justice. Probably not

Donivanp · Aug 2, 2021

Okay, so while researching and getting items for a well dressed war Phantom I came across some new resin items from a couple different companies.

ECM pod were all the talk during the unpleasantness in SEA. Tactical birds wore them like bling. Sometimes one sometimes two pods were carried. Eduard has released a series of period era pods. first I picked up the AN/ALQ-71(V)-3 pod, it comes as a single pod.

Next the AN/ALQ-71(V)-2 comes with two different pods and it looks like slightly different configurations.

And the last one I picked up from Eduard was the AN/ALQ-87 ECM pod. Comes again with two pods.

I bought those all from Victory Models on Ebay. From Sprue Brothers I picked up from GT Resin I picked up two AN/ALQ-101(V)-3 p0ds, they come as a single pod. They also have the a couple over versions of the pod.

If you are doing F-105's or F-4's in particular the correct pods can make a real difference in the well dressed aircraft. Also the correct ordnance. I picked up a set of Verlinden Mk 82 which comes with 6 high drag Snake eye's and six low drags bombs. I may need to adjust what I want to hang as well but I have several sets of Hasegawa weapons set A, B and C.

The F-4E was sent to SEA in 1968 shortly after they started entering the USAF fleet. The 388th TFW flying out of Korat, RTAFB became the principle supporter giving up their F-105's to the Takhli, RTAFB based 105 wing. The 388th adopted the now ubiquities sharks mouth motif for their Phantoms. When first introduced the "E" models has a short angled back muzzle beak for the M-61A-1 20mm Vulcan cannon produced by General Electric. This would be one of the first things changed to a longer muzzle break. The E's would have many changes and upgrades over the years of service but suffice to say the "early" variant was to last until '72 when the new wing with leading edge "fighting slats" were added. Used in much the same way as the F-105's had been used the primary function was to "move mud"! it was not really until Linebacker and Linebacker II that the air to air escorting faction was seen heavily. From 68 to 71 moving mud close air support was what they did. Often carrying no more then two AIM-7 Sparrows for air to air and the forward two missile wells having ECM pods and or targeting pods (Pave Penny) if using smart bombs. Mostly "dumb bombs" were the name of the game.

The kit only comes with markings for A/C 67-308 "Betty Lou". I found it a bit difficult to find decals for Vietnam era F-4E's and only really found them from Microsoft. Not a fan of Microsoft decals due in large part to what I see a hap hazard research and misinformation, I bought them anyway but due diligence in doing ones own research is needed. For instance in all the 388th TFW aircraft it is called out as the 338th TFW. I know it is a small thing but if that is how they handle the "details" what else is wrong?

rochie · Aug 2, 2021

good info Don

fubar57 · Aug 3, 2021

Neato

Wayne Little · Aug 3, 2021

Nice choice there Don, wouldn't mind one of those myself....

Donivanp · Aug 3, 2021

Wayne Little said:
Nice choice there Don, wouldn't mind one of those myself....

I've got two?

Crimea_River · Aug 3, 2021

Good one Don.

Donivanp said:
...... Andy did a 1/32 Dina a couple builds back......

Nope, not me. Probably Wayne.

Donivanp · Aug 3, 2021

Crimea_River said:
Good one Don.

Nope, not me. Probably Wayne.

Credit where credit is due. Ki 46

A4K · Aug 3, 2021

Wow - this should be a great build Don!

Donivanp · Aug 3, 2021

Okay, so now for a fresh start!

AND NO YOU CAN NOT LOOK AT THE REST OF THE ROOM!

Donivanp · Aug 3, 2021

I am going to try AK Interactive acrylic lacquers on this build. I also picked up the set AK acrylic set for SEA aircraft. I'm not sure yet but I may be trying some weathering to the bird. the SEA weather is rough on the paint of these aircraft. The dark tan fades quickly as does the medium green. Flying a lot of hours and bouncing around the sky and ground put a lot of ware and tare on these birds.

Though I know this is a F-4D, the paint is still the same issue. This is a Post Vietnam era photo I believe in Korea, Internet photo.

This is the look I will try to recreate. Who know if I finish the build I might get some of the look.

One issue is the use of laquers and acrylics on top of each other. I've heard stories. Any inputs would be great.

As for weapons! here are some ideas.

Below is a "bomb truck" load.

A load for air to air with the AIM-9's and ALQ-87 on the inboard wing station.

Air intercept note the ECM pod in the forward AIM-7 missile well!

Rocket pods on the aft station of a MER!

Standard level bombing from altitude.

Crimea_River · Aug 4, 2021

I will try the AKs on my next build as well. No idea how they work or how to thin. I'll need to read up.

Donivanp · Aug 4, 2021

Crimea_River said:
I will try the AKs on my next build as well. No idea how they work or how to thin. I'll need to read up.

I have used the AK Chromate Yellow Green, this is why I'm going for it, I really liked it. You will need lacquer thinner (Tamiya's works great) but I have tried thinned and un-thinned. Worked flawlessly both ways.

On to Quinta Studies.

If you have not used before what you get in the package.

Instruction sheet

The decals, these are of the actual sheets, in this kit was one for the IP, one for the side consoles and for some reason three for the seats, never saw a F-4 with three seats, but hey what do I know. As for the paint, I will need to try and match the decals. Should be a dark gull grey but we all know how that works.

Donivanp · Aug 4, 2021

First things first. Checking the color to use for the interior. ZM calls out Dark Sea Grey and they are using Vallejo colors. I knew that was wrong for USAF Phantoms and normally would use either gull grey or dark gull grey. I took out the Quinta Studios set and paint chipped it. I tried the gull greys but way to dark. It turned out that light ghost grey is the fit.